Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

So it’s time for another Try It Kit from Raley’s and Something Extra! This kit is themed with Spring Baking and I got… CAKE MIX! Mmmm cake. So this post is a review, recipe and a coupon giveaway all rolled into one!

The kit came with vanilla bean cake mix, a whisk, cupcake liners, coupons, and recipes using their mix and some from scratch. I like a good peanut free mix because honestly, sometimes I just only have time to do a mix. This one uses eggs, milk and an entire stick of butter. It mixed up fast even with the toddler helping. I popped it into the oven the timer was almost up and then…the baby had a blow out. So a few of the cupcakes got too done on the bottom and sides. Oops. But they came out beautiful.

It made 18 cupcakes because for probably the first time in my life, I didn’t overfill them. Go team mom! One cupcake immediately went to the toddler. She inhaled it and usually she’s not a big cake fan, she just eats the frosting. The cupcakes are light and have a nice vanilla flavor and reminded me of some cupcakes we’ve bought down at a boutique store. Now on to the frosting. Silly me didn’t read the directions right and didn’t realize the caramel had to chill, so if you are making these, do the caramel the night before!

1. To prepare caramel, bring cream, brown sugar and butter to boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and keep at a low boil for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla and salt and transfer to a small bowl; cover and chill.

2. To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and 3/4 of the caramel together until light and fluffy. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until smooth.

3. Spread over cooled cupcakes and drizzle with remaining caramel, warming for a few seconds in the microwave if too thick. Add a few sprinkles of sea salt to each cupcake.

“Ta da!” as the little one would say. First of all, this frosting is fabulous. I love salty and sweet together so this made my Easter treats great! I think the frosting actually outshines the cake; everyone ate the frosting first then the cake! If you don’t live near a Raley’s try a vanilla or yellow cake mix with this frosting recipe. You will not be disappointed. (Or heck, just eat the frosting!)

Now, I have a few coupons to giveaway! These are for 50 cents off any Raley’s Premium Baking Mix. They are good until May 31st at any Raley’s, Bel Air or Nob Hill Foods. They cost around $3.50 which is more expensive than a cheap mix, but in my opinion are worth it.